Narendra Modi, while inaugurating the Defence Expo 2018 took a veiled dig at the UPA regime by saying that the defence preparedness was hampered due to policy paralysis earlier but his government had changed that by revising the procurement procedure with provisions for stimulating growth of the domestic defence industry.
Modi is observing a day-long fast in protest against washout of Parliament proceedings, also said the government’s commitment to peace is just as strong as its commitment to protecting its people and territory.
“India has sent one of the largest numbers of UN peacekeepers all over the word. Our commitment to peace is just as strong as our commitment to protecting our people and our territory,” Modi said after formally inaugurating the Defence Expo 2018 in Chennai.
“For this, we are ready to take all necessary measures to equip our armed forces, including through the establishment of a strategically independent defence industrial complex.”
The country’s history of thousands of years shows India never desired anyone else’s territory, Modi added.
On the defence front, he said his government has taken steps to strengthen and improve manufacturing licenses, exports clearances, Foreign Direct Investment and reforming procurement.
“In all these areas, our regulations, processes and procedures have been made more industry-friendly, more transparent, more predictable, more outcome-oriented,” he added.
Modi said the Defence Procurement Procedure has been revised with many specific provisions for stimulating growth of the domestic defence industry.
“We have also de-notified some items earlier made exclusively by Ordnance Factories, so that the private sector, especially, the MSMEs can enter this space,” he said.
